Based in New York, Elizabeth Ulanova works at the intersection of visual art, cultural history, and technology. California-born, she both studied and worked overseas in Asia for almost 3 years after finishing high school early. With professional experience in international liaison, corporate education and consulting, and journalism in renowned Chinese firms, she then moved to New England in pursuance of interests in technology, and entrepreneurship. Therefore after developing digital startups as a Boston biotech foundation’s first ever entrepreneur-in-residence, Elizabeth matriculated at Columbia University in New York. At Columbia, from studying the visual arts to the infamous "core", she graduated magna cum laude (B.A) whilst also served as the Ivy League Council's national president and co-head of the US expansion of Project Access. Beginning Fall 2019, Elizabeth will pursue a research masters (M.Phil) in the sociology of media and culture at the University of Cambridge.

Elizabeth has had a lifelong passion for travel and has currently visited countries on 5 continents. Her favorite hobbies include dance, creative writing, watching cooking shows, and collecting vintage postcards.

My Work

My research and artistry are focused on analyzing and synthesizing technology-inspired-culture and culture-inspired-technology.

This comes in several folds 1) exploring the sociological questions that inevitably arise when technology and culture overlap via qualitative, ethnographic methodology, 2) showcasing digital hypotheses and cultural critiques through kinetic art and original film, 3) synthesizing human-computer interactions as analytical frameworks to better understand human behavior and society, 4) stimulating active engagement of conversations regarding digital culture through new media, and 5) studying to transform the way in which we design and perceive modern digital interfaces.

Select Research

"Social Interactions Through the Analytical Framework of Technology-Inspired-Culture and Culture-Inspired-Technology"

an upcoming graduate SOCIOLOGY research thesis that will be conducted using qualitative, ethnographic methods.

How does existing technology transform and impact our culture, as well as pinpoint and highlight existing human social behavior? Specifically, this research will explore the role of social media technology in regards to the quality of interpersonal human relationships. It will also aim to answer if technology is used as an apparatus to inflate and deflate existing human compulsions rather than being a destructive tool on its own. This research will be an analysis of present-day technology, as a lens to view and critique modern human impulses and interactivity.

"Clashings of Art, Culture, and Technology in a Digital Anthropological World"

For my theses at Columbia University, I created original short films and installations that showcased alternative universes set in the immediate future. These storylines were centered around the modification or mediation of human behavior through fictional technology. For example, “Voices” critiqued the nature of internal transparency and surveillance within society, through the lens of a fictionalized world that mandates its citizens to wear telepathic brain microchips. Likewise, “Remember” focused on the subjective role of memory through the apparatus of glasses that record and playback every one of life’s moments. The goal of these projects was to present the sociological questions that inevitably arise when technology and culture overlap. Hence, I wanted audiences to digest my hypotheses in an engaging, visceral manner (through media) while I visually critiqued our human behavioral and cultural patterns. In my last thesis film “Connection," I focused on social interactivity and the role of self-medication through the framework of bioengineered pills that induce apathy. Live installations that included the utilization of video projection, sculpture, and paintings, such as “Cracked”, “Screens”, and “Body”, were also produced as tangible mixed collages that sought to create said dialogue in the physical sphere. In conclusion, I did not seek to predict the future, but rather to continually analyze and synthesize the influence of technology-inspired-cultures and culture-inspired-technology.

Born in California, based in New York. Educated globally, experienced in working in multidisciplinary industries, non-traditional, and internationally traveled. Currently working and studying at the intersection of art, culture, and technology.

Project Access

Co-head of us expansion

A global non-profit, tech-enabled education startup focused on education with 20+ international country teams and partnered with top universities and companies (ex: Cambridge, Oxford, Mckinsey, etc)•Co-leads the American expansion as a social entrepreneurship startup after years of Project Access' global success in bringing students to the UK•Strategy, product development, partnerships, business development, marketing, and technology for the overarching American operation

Ivy Council

national president emeritus

•Former National President, National Vice President of Technology, Columbia Head Delegate, and IPC Director of Technology. Elected from regional conference director to national president in 1.5 years.•During my time at IVC, I have led all executive efforts for Ivy Council National that oversaw all 8 Ivy League chapters, annual Ivy League Leadership conferences, philanthropy, publication, and international ventures (Eastern Economic Forum, United Nations YA, etc), including 30 officers and 1,300 members.•Created annual IVC-NYC Retreat. Spearheaded EEF partnership, IVC-NYC Speaker Series, and IVC's overall shift to leadership development (Ivy Innovation Conference), built the foundational structure for IVC Alumni Association and Board of Governors. Created first-ever streamlined websites, digital timeline, archive, and applications, brokered strategic partnerships, implemented national digital marketing, social media, operational campaigns, and policy. Led Columbia IVC's highest enrollment year.

Architects inspect the environment around us - rendering empty space into some of the most memorable landmarks to the human eye. Both professions are arguably traditional, practical, and timeless disciplines whom have since the dawn of time placed the human as the focal point of their creation. Now, technology is the future - non-traditional, unconventional and designed to convenient our lives whilst pushing our computational limits. But yet, can the iPhone be compared to the Mona Lisa? And can Samsung transfix us like Monet? Therefore, I yearn to craft technology with the training and perspective of both an artist and an architect. Transforming and creating new forms of tech that combines emotionless, but innovative computations with the abstractions and passions conveyed through traditional art.

ONGOING PROJECTS

COLUMBIA STUDIOS:

Architecture & Mixed Media Studios

Fall 2016:

1. Design Futures Studio Project 1: "Energy Calendar"

COMPLETED

2. Design Futures Studio Project 2: "Wearable Resume"

COMPLETED

3. Design Futures Studio Project 3: "Interventional Device"

COMPLETED

Spring 2017:

1. Intro To Arch Studio Project 1: Perception, What is Outside on the Inside, What is Inside on the Outside